There was some clock drama in the final second, but the Mavericks hang on for a win to open Summer League and Cooper Flagg's career. Flagg and Bronny James both went scoreless in the second half, while Cole Swider led all scorers with 22 points.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg described his NBA Summer League debut as "one of the worst games of my life," but drew praise from coaches and opposing guard Bronny James after a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

LAS VEGAS — He missed 16 of 21 shots, including all five attempts from deep, and airballed his first and final shots. And those who saw his NBA 2K26 Summer League debut still came away with a consensus gut feeling: Cooper Flagg is right on pace to be a problem.

Former Dallas Mavericks governor Mark Cuban has great faith in Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg's future, so much so that he offered a comparison to late Los Angeles Lakers legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant regarding his potential development path while taking in Dallas' 87-85 summer league win over L.

The Mavericks have a veteran core around the 18-year-old Flagg with past NBA champions Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson giving the rookie an immediate support system

Lakers second year Bronny James didn't give rookie Cooper Flagg no mercy during their debut matchup in the NBA Summer League